Camps
Held In: TUNIS MUNICH 3B CAMP NORTH OF BERLIN
How
Long Interned: 829 days
Liberated
/ repatriated:liberated
Date
Liberated: 05/23/45
Age
at Capture: 24
Medals
Received: GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, POW MEDAL
Military
Job: HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER
Company:
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Occupation
after War: MAIL CARRIER
Bio:
Richard J. Nichols, died 11/19/98. He married to Barbara, and was born
5/22/19 in Susquchanna, PA. After joining the Army Richard became a Cpl.
in the 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Army, Battery E. Mr. Nichols was
captured in Faid Pass, North Africa 2/14/43, After his capture he was
marched to Tunis, flown to Reggio, Italy, sent by boxcar to Naples, on
to Munich and finally Stalag IIIB on the Oder Canal, Furstenburg,
Germany. Richard was on a forced marched in February 1944 to Stalag IIA
at Neubrandenburg, and in May 1945 he woke up to find the German guards
gone; six of the POWs including Richard left on foot toward the Ebbe
River. Three days later they caught up with U.S. troops on the East Side
of the Elbe. Mr. Nichols was later taken to Halle, Germany, were he was
debriefed by Army and flown to Le Havre, France where we happily boarded
a crowded ship home.
After leaving the service Richard spent several years working as a
farmer, he also worked as a Rural Letter Carrier, retired in 1978 for
the U.S. Postal service. Richard had three children; Mrs. Michael (Helen
Rae) Egan, Windsor, NY; Richard S. Nichols, Van Etten, NY; Mrs. John (Jo
Ann) Lennon, Endicott, N.Y., 10 grandchildren, and 7
great-grandchildren. Married to Pauline Grausgruber July, 1941. She
passed away August, 1948 leaving 2 children ages 1 & 2.
